Reality Check

Bike - 37 miles (2:00:53) plus 3 miles warm-up

The other day, Mohammed asked me if I wanted to join him for a 60km bike ride on Sunday morning. I decided that it might be a good idea, but was a little apprehensive since the furthest I have ever gone was about 28 miles. I knew it was going to be a challenge, esp since biking is my weakest of the 3 disciplines.

I should have taken my first clue that it was going to be embarrassing when I met him near my house in all of his professional riding gear. I was cowering as I pulled up with my paper-clipped helmet, my zip-tied pedals (since I have no riding shoes and clips) and my way too small bike. He then proceeded to tell me we had to go over to a coffee shop to meet some of his friends. Clue #2.

My embarrassment only grew larger as 7 of his riding buddies began parking their bikes at the shop. Comparing my 2,500 dH bike with their 10,000 - 15,000 dH bikes was another kick in the gut. I just said my hellos and kept my sunglasses on to conceal my fear. Can I even keep up with them for the first 2 miles ?

Once we got started, I did all I could to not make a fool of myself. To get out to El-Hajb required going up and up and up low-grade hills. Every once in a while, Mo would put his hand on my back and help push to keep me up with everyone. But for the most part, I was able to keep pace with all of these guys for the first 15 miles or so. Then I realized that this was just their warm-up.

After a while, they began pulling away from me and I didn't mind. But at mile 19, I realized that I still had to make it back into town and my house. Once I turned around, I noticed that we had been going uphill for a majority of the ride. I felt somewhat encouraged, yet all alone out in the countryside of Morocco since they were long gone!

The ride back was much more fun, cuz it was downhill. It did get quite boring toward the end of the 40 miles. Thankfully I rode better and faster than ever before. But it was a major reality check. I am not great on the bike and I should train harder if I want to ride with those guys again. The rest of the day I just laid around and moaned and napped.